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17 Nov 2012, 11:58

770 GMAT (50Q,45V)

Undergrad GPA: 3.1 in Philosophy from William and Mary (graduated 2007)

Professional Certifications: PMP (Project Management Professional)

Previous work experience includes founding a company with a high school friend, volunteering in Ghana, working for 2 different U.S. Senators on capital hill (intern and then staff assistant - both low level jobs), Currently Director of Project Management and Operations at a solar energy development and finance Company:

Joined the current company pre-funding 3 years ago as an intern (promoted to Operations Analyst, then Project Manager, then Senior Project Manager, and finally to Director of Project Management and Operations). Currently report directly to the CEO and have 3 direct reports (fewer than 15 people total in the company). Responsible for solar project technical review, design and engineering, materials procurement, and project and asset management. I've overseen technical evaluation of over 500MW of project pipeline (includes redesigning projects to lower installation costs, and increase energy harvest), project managed over 2 MW and over see asset management of all projects constructed, Also consulting as a solar subject matter expert for the Cornell tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

Goals: move to senior management,and then c-level in a renewable energy/clean tech company. Eventually found my own company.

I'd like to study entrepreneurship, and am going to school both to make connections and improve my skill sets aspects of business that I'd don't get a whole lot of exposure to (mostly finance). Currently looking atStanfordHarvardMITPennChicagoNorthwestern

but would also like suggestions for other top schools that have top entrepreneurship programs.

Edit: I should also add INSEAD and London School of Business on my list. Would love to get an MBA from a top international school, though the foreign language requirement is somewhat prohibitive (I have 4 years of french but 2 non 'A' grades in high school, both of them French, and one of them a D)

Last edited by bradenpan on 18 Nov 2012, 07:12, edited 1 time in total.

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Undergrad GPA: 3.1 in Philosophy from William and Mary (graduated 2003)

Professional Certifications: PMP (Project Management Professional)

Previous work experience includes founding a company with a high school friend, volunteering in Ghana, working for 2 different U.S. Senators on capital hill (intern and then staff assistant - both low level jobs), Currently Director of Project Management and Operations at a solar energy development and finance Company:

Joined the current company pre-funding 3 years ago as an intern (promoted to Operations Analyst, then Project Manager, then Senior Project Manager, and finally to Director of Project Management and Operations). Currently report directly to the CEO and have 3 direct reports (fewer than 15 people total in the company). Responsible for solar project technical review, design and engineering, materials procurement, and project and asset management. I've overseen technical evaluation of over 500MW of project pipeline (includes redesigning projects to lower installation costs, and increase energy harvest), project managed over 2 MW and over see asset management of all projects constructed, Also consulting as a solar subject matter expert for the Cornell tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

Goals: move to senior management,and then c-level in a renewable energy/clean tech company. Eventually found my own company.

I'd like to study entrepreneurship, and am going to school both to make connections and improve my skill sets aspects of business that I'd don't get a whole lot of exposure to (mostly finance). Currently looking atStanfordHarvardMITPennChicagoNorthwestern

but would also like suggestions for other top schools that have top entrepreneurship programs.

Edit: I should also add INSEAD and London School of Business on my list. Would love to get an MBA from a top international school, though the foreign language requirement is somewhat prohibitive (I have 4 years of french but 2 non 'A' grades in high school, both of them French, and one of them a D)

Your GMAT is stellar. Your work experience is impressive and rich. You're in a hot area and you must have done some interesting traveling. I'm concerned, however about your GPA. Admittedly 10 years ago and you do have the PMP. Were there extenuating circumstances that contributed to the GPA? Any trends?

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18 Nov 2012, 07:16

Linda - thanks for the comment

first off: I updated my graduation date to the correct year: 2007 (I entered college in 2003, apparently I was struggling yesterday).

Re: GPA - no extenuating circumstances and no distinct trends. I did have a 3.3 in my major. Honestly, I didn't really go to class that much in college, I wasted the time away goofing off with friends. While it was a great time, I do wish I had made more of an effort on the educational side. I think (or at least hope) everything else shows that I'm intelligent and I've matured since then so (hopefully) schools won't see it as too much of an issue.

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first off: I updated my graduation date to the correct year: 2007 (I entered college in 2003, apparently I was struggling yesterday).

Re: GPA - no extenuating circumstances and no distinct trends. I did have a 3.3 in my major. Honestly, I didn't really go to class that much in college, I wasted the time away goofing off with friends. While it was a great time, I do wish I had made more of an effort on the educational side. I think (or at least hope) everything else shows that I'm intelligent and I've matured since then so (hopefully) schools won't see it as too much of an issue.

Brad,

You're welcome. Thanks for clarifying.

Again, you need to address that GPA. Say it was due to immaturity. That you wish you had taken your coursework more seriously. Point to your professional progress and PMP as evidence that you have matured and know how to apply yourself.

I still think you should apply to the programs you have targeted with the possible exception of HBS and MIT. Then add a couple of programs that support your goals and may be so wow'ed by everything else that they will overlook the GPA. Consider Cornell Johnson, UT McCombs, and UCLA Anderson.